The Knights of St. John International (KSJI) and Ladies’ Auxiliary, a Catholic friendly group, have issued a strong and uncompromising warning to the Government of Ghana, insisting that the identity and mission of Christian schools “are not up for negotiation, dilution, or redefinition.”
In a statement released on Friday, November 28, 2025, the Catholic fraternal order declared unwavering support for the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), who recently rejected attempts to reinterpret religious practice within mission schools.
The KSJI reminded the government that mission schools were founded long before state involvement, funded and developed entirely through the Church’s missionary efforts.
“Government support is appreciated, but support is not control. Assistance is not a takeover,” the KSJI statement added.
According to the group, the Christian identity, discipline, culture, and moral foundations of these institutions form “the heart and soul” of their existence and cannot be altered to satisfy external pressures.
The Knights warned that the erosion of discipline and moral uprightness in schools is already evident nationwide. They stressed that mission schools were deliberately established to counter this decline by instilling discipline, moral integrity, academic excellence, responsibility, and strong character formation in young people.
“A society’s future depends on the values its young people imbibe today,” the KSJI emphasized.
KSJI also pointed out that parents choose mission schools because of their Christian culture, not despite it. Parents, they noted, are fully aware of the traditions, religious practices, and ethos of the schools they select.
“This choice must be respected, not diluted or altered to suit external pressures.”
The statement strongly cautioned the state against any attempt to alter the foundational identity of mission schools.
“Mission schools were never created by the State. The Church purchased the land, built the schools, trained teachers, and shaped their ethos. Government’s role is partnership, not ownership.”
The Knights and Ladies Auxiliary added that the government should support mission schools to maintain their identity, not attempt to redefine them.
In conclusion, the KSJI urged all Christian bodies to remain steadfast: “We must protect the integrity of Christian Mission Schools, a national treasure that has shaped Ghana for generations.”
They reiterated that preserving the Christian identity of mission schools is essential not only for educational excellence but for safeguarding the moral and social fabric of the nation.
By Theresa Kpordzo//Newswatchgh.com
